*Bushmaster M4*

[USMC03]

This winter all of my AR's when through a metamorphasis, as I'm constantly figuring out what works best for me.

Something that I did on all my guns is I moved the vertical foregrip further forward, I find that this helps me "drive" the gun better. Some guys advocate moving it further foward than what I have it, but I'm some what short in stature and still need to have access to the Surefire. I have the Surefire moved as far forward as it will go. I am liking the vertical foregrip in it's current location, works well for me.

Another item that I changed was, on all of my M4 carbines, I went back to 14.5" barrels. I have been from 14.5" barrels on all my M4's to 16" barrels, and now back to 14.5" barrels.

Of the guns that I'm running an Aimpoint on (5 total), some had LaRue BUIS others had Troy Ind BUIS. A couple of years ago I prefered a folding BUIS. But after using the LaRue BUIS for a couple years, I prefer it to a folding BUIS on guns that I run an Aimpoint on. This gun had a Troy BUIS on it, I traded out the Troy Ind BUIS for a LaRue.

The final modification to this gun is the addition of the LMT SOPMOD stock. I had tried this stock a couple years ago and it was a decent stock, but didn't feel that it was worht the price they were charging. Late last fall, I put the LMT SOPMOD stock on one of my duty guns and ran it for a while. I really warmed up to the SOPMOD. I don't know how I ever lived without a rubber buttpad. Ergonomics were perfect. Longer length was perfect. Cheek well was perfect. Footprint of the buttstock was perfect. There was literally nothing that I didn't like about the LMT SOPMOD. Of all the M4's that I had that had VLTOR's were chaged out and a LMT SOPMOD was added.




-Factory Bushmaster M4

-14.5" Bushmaster M4 barrel

-Sabre Defense elongated A2 flash hider (perminately attached to bring barrel to 16")

-LaRue 7.0 rail system

-Tango Down rail pannels

-Tango Down vertical foregrip

-Tango Down Battle Grip pistol grip

-Aimpoint ML2

-LaRue Tactical Aimpoint Mount

-LaRue Tactical Back Up Iron Sight (BUIS)

-KNS non-rotating hammer / trigger pin set

-LMT SOPMOD Stock

-Mid West Industries rail mounted sling swivel

-Blue Force Gear VCAS Sling (Vickers sling)

-Surefire M961C (9 volt light with clicker tail cap)

-LaRue Tactical light mount.



















-Jeff

[USMC03]

New pics and changed a couple things:

[markm]

I'm with you on the 14.5.... When I pick up my 16, it just feels super long.

[Bagger Lance]

Nice setup on your Bushy. I have the Patrolman version that is undergoing some mods.

Why do you prefer the shorter barrel?

Thanks,

Bagger

[Gunfighter.45]

Looks great...the way I would love to have mine look!!

[USMC03]

Why do you prefer the shorter barrel?

Thanks,

Bagger

Smaller overall package. Not a huge difference between a 14.5" and a 16" barrel, but enough for me to notice. Especially when you ad armor / gear / etc.


-Jeff

[jmart]

Jeff, are you still running any E-Mods? How do they compare to the SOPMOD? Have you given up on your E-Mods?

[USMC03]

Anyway, Jeff, are you still running any E-Mods? How do they compare to the SOPMOD? Have you given up on your E-Mods?

There are some accessories that I like across the board on all AR's, there are other accessories that I may like on a 11.5" SBR but not like on a 16" Mid-Length.

Stocks can 1) help balance out a rifle, 2) or if the stock too big or heavy can dominate the gun, 3) and if it's too small or too light can make the gun feel muzzle heavy.

After trying several different configurations over the year, at the current time I have found that I like Magpul CTR's on SBR's and some 14.5" M4's but I don't like them on 16" barreled mid-lengths.

SOPMODs (for me) fit perfectly on a 14.5" M4, but can also balance most SBR's and mid-lengths out fairly well.

EMods and UBRs balance out 16" Mid-Lenghts and most 18" gun with rifle length gas tubes quite well.


As a general rule I run:

-CTR's on SBR's and some 14.5" M4's

-SOPMODs only on 14.5" M4's

-EMods and UBR's only on 16" mid-lengths




S/F,
Jeff

[Buck]

Very nice setup...

I too am a big fan of the SOPMOD stock... I have one on my work carbine and it really fits the bill... As I switch back and forth between an ACOG and a Aimpoint depending on the mission, I use the Troy folding BUIS...

Just my .02

Buck

[USMC03]

Some new indoor pics: